US tariffs on agricultural exports could be leveraged as an edge if they are lower than the levies on other countries’ exports, Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) said yesterday, adding that the government would continue to negotiate for more tariff exemptions.
The Executive Yuan on Friday said it had reached an agreement with the US to lower tariffs on Taiwanese goods from 20 percent to 15 percent, without stacking them on existing most-favored-nation rates.
Chen said the pressure on exporters have largely decreased after the tariff rate dropped to 15 percent from the initial 32 percent in April last year.
Photo: CNA
The agreement is expected to restore the competitiveness of Taiwanese tea and moth orchids, he said, adding that the exports to the US could increase if other competitors’ tariff rates are higher.
For example, the total quantity and revenue of Taiwan’s mahi-mahi exports to the US last year were higher than the previous year, Chen said.
The government would continue to negotiate with Washington for tariff exemptions on other agricultural exports, he added.
Regarding US exports to Taiwan, Chen said the government would prioritize food security, domestic industry stability and farmers’ needs during negotiations.
“We never based negotiations on a ‘zero tariff’ principle, as tariff rates for different goods must be discussed thoroughly and separately,” he said.
Chen made the remarks on the sidelines of an event promoting domestic pork at Taipei’s Hope Plaza.
A section for pork brands was set up at the farmers’ market over the weekend.
Family activities such as making sausages, dumplings or pork balls, as well as food and agricultural education-related challenges would also continue to be held today.
Chan I Shan Foods Co chairman Chen Kuo-hsun (陳國訓) said Taiwanese pork had a “golden” time before the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 1997, during which about 13.5 million pigs were slaughtered in Taiwan annually and frozen pork exports amounted to 270,000 tonnes.
Taiwan’s warm weather is good for farming pigs in well-ventilated environments instead of enclosed facilities, he said, adding that that is the key to the fresh flavor of Taiwanese pork.
More than 400 tonnes of pork were exported to the Philippines in 2024 and about 300 tonnes to Singapore last year, he added.
The agriculture minister said that the farmers’ market at the plaza usually focused on crops and fishery products.
Pork products were included for the first time and they attracted many customers, he said
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